Space Pioneers is active in InWorldz at the island called Sprite, where we are building a full-size model of a orbital space settlement, 200 metres in diameter by 50 metres wide (think space station in the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey').

We are a small organisation, at present, based in Australia and are active globally in real life, promoting space development as the essential key to human survival and also to win back a safe Earth. For the details of our vision see the document Creating A Solar Civilization, which can be found on our web site:http://www.islandearth.com.au/

We suggest that there are three steps to a sustainable human presence beyond Earth:1. Build solar power stations in space, to access the unlimited energy-well of our star.2. Launch industry beyond Earth.3. Construct orbital space settlements.

Our home base in InWorldz is in the Sky Gallery at Sprite, reached via the teleporters, where we will have displays on all aspects of space development. We have just purchased and set out a full-size model of the Saturn V Moon rocket made by Krull Kitty: it's very big. The Saturn V was the most powerful rocket ever built and has not yet been surpassed.

We will have a display of the Moon landing story next to the Saturn V.

We promote orbital space settlements as the key to living beyond Earth for two key reasons. First, they can generate an Earth gravity via rotation (centrifugal force), which will allow people to maintain an Earth-gravity fitness and Second, they can be built and located across the Solar System, offering a lot more flexibility than clinging to planets, Moons, or asteroids.

Professor Gerard K. O'Neill of Princeton estimated that there is enough raw material in the asteroid belt alone to build orbital space settlements with a land area equivalent to 3,000 times that of Earth (p.16 'The High Frontier' 1977). There is as much raw material again in the orbital La Grange points of Jupiter and millions of times more in the outer Solar System beyond Pluto, where the comets come from and all Earth's water originates.

The health issues related to Earth gravity are very significant in space, where in zero gravity the human body quickly loses bone mass and muscle strength. Any children born in less than an Earth gravity might never be able to visit Earth.

With all this in view, we are currently building a model of an orbital space settlement at Sprite, as an example of what the future can hold beyond Earth and among the stars. The lower section will be usable, but as the avatar walks up the inside of the wheel, the floor gets steep.

Maybe special virtual boots will solve this problem, but we are yet to find a virtual anti-gravity HUD that will allow the avatar to walk around the inside of a wheel. The ideal solution to this problem will be a special gravity, which radiates in 360 degrees from a central line (think space station in Babylon V).

Could the special gravity happen in a sky box in InWorldz, or will the special gravity need to be developed in its own virtual world? Everyone we ask tells us that this special gravity does not exist in any virtual world at present. Suggestions are very welcome.

If the special gravity must be developed, we hope that work on this will be inspired by building the virtual orbital space settlement at Sprite.

There will be opportunities for research in all aspects of living, surviving and thriving beyond Earth and when the virtual orbital space settlement can be occupied, like any building in the virtual world, the participants really will be space pioneers and help to open the way to our future among the stars.

We suspect that real space development, the kind that delivers a sustainable human presence beyond Earth, will only be delivered when a large enough number of people on Earth demand that it happens. The virtual world activity could therefore become a vital part of inspiring real space development.

If enough people became involved in the virtual space settlement movement, this could help space development happen a lot faster beyond Earth.

Right now we are building the first quarter of the orbital space settlement on a building platform above the Sky Gallery and when the shell is complete, it will be lowered into position above the central plaza, where it will be fitted out. The work will then proceed on the second quarter.

Our first orbital space settlement is a basic model. The next project can be a lot more sophisticated, made to engineering designs, architectural lines and an interior design eye.

We hope that this project will inspire participation from universities and professionals. Virtual worlds are a global environment, so there is unique potential for a virtual world project to involve folk from many nations in realising a dream and working toward its reality.

_________________Space Pioneers ~ working toward an exciting future beyond Earth and a sustainable human presence on Earth ~ located at the Sky Gallery above Spritehttp://www.islandearth.com.au/

Visinda Rille

Post subject: Re: Space Pioneers in InWorldz

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:04 pm

Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 2:43 amPosts: 10

Hi All,

Big news! The model of the orbital space settlement is in place at the Sky Gallery on Sprite. We are still working on it but visitors are welcome to come over and watch our progress. The shell is done but the internal fittings have not been installed yet.

On behalf of Space Pioneers, I want to send a big thank you to the founders for creating an environment where it has been possible to create a build of this size. The affordability of sims and the generous prim allowance in InWorldz have contributed significantly to getting this project off the ground.

Great news! The hub of the virtual orbital space settlement (VOSS) has been lowered into position from the building platform and fitted out.

An elevator system has been installed in the torus, which takes the visitor to the hub and also to the top of the torus. Because the VOSS is not functioning with a virtual gravity that simulates rotation, where the avatar would be able to walk around the inside of the torus, the top of the torus is an upside down place.

Still hunting for a special gravity system that will allow the VOSS to be used.

Photos of the VOSS being built can be seen on the Space Pioneers web site, following the announcement of the VOSS construction and explanation of the project. More images will be added as the project evolves:

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